Drawer fitting arrangement

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a fitting arrangement for a knock down drawer more particularly the means of fastening the front panel of said drawer to side of the panels. A lock fittings for removably attaching a first wall to a second wall, said first and second walls being orthogonal to each other, said lock fittings comprising: a lock assembly ( 4 ) having a mounting face ( 30 ) and a fitting face ( 26 ), said mounting ( 30 ) and fitting ( 26 ) faces being orthogonal to each other.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a fitting arrangement for a knock downdrawer more particularly the means of fastening the front panel of saiddrawer to the side panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Drawers insertable or in openings provided in articles orfurniture have been known in the art.

[0003] Known drawers of the type under discussion include a bottomportion, two guide rails laterally engaged with the bottom portion, afront sheeting, a pair of parallel side portions, and a back portionextended between the rear ends of the side portions.

[0004] The side portions of the known drawers, disclosed, for example inGerman publication DE-OS No. 3024972; DE-OS No. 30 30199, formed ofindividual are components; such side portions and individual elementsare manufactured so that eventually certain components are assembled toform left-hand side portions whereas the other certain components can beassembled only to form right-hand side portions of the drawer. Aninterchanging of the structural components to produce both side portionsof the drawer had been impossible. Although efforts have been made tomanufacture furniture drawers of plastics by spray molding to make eachindividual component in a single mold these efforts had resulted in veryhigh costs. In as much as during the assembling of the individualcomponent parts a user should pay attention as to which componentsbelong to the right-hand side portion and which components should betaken into consideration for the left-hand side portion the wholeassembling process has been time-consuming.

[0005] Although the fastening means for fastening the side portions tothe front sheeting are covered with special caps in the known drawersthe access to the fastening means in the assembled drawer for adjustingor removing the bolts has been difficult because it has been required todisassemble the drawer or at least to displace the component partsrelative to each other to expose the fastening means. Moreover, it doesnot provide means for adjustment of front panel position once assembledfor the purpose of correcting the alignment of the drawer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improveddrawer connecting means for article of furniture.

[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide animproved metal drawer.

[0008] Due to the present invention the above indicated disadvantages ofthe conventional drawers for furniture can be avoided.

[0009] The drawer according to the invention is simple in constructionand inexpensive in manufacture.

[0010] An easy access to the fastening means in the drawer is ensured bythe construction of the proposed drawer.

[0011] There is therefore provided a lock fittings for removablyattaching a first wall to a second wall, said first and second wallsbeing orthogonal to each other, said lock fittings comprising: a lockassembly (4) having a mounting face (30) and a fitting face (26), saidmounting (30) and fitting (26) faces being orthogonal to each other; alocking mechanism having a spring-loaded lock (8) and a cover (5) forhousing said lock mechanism, said lock (8) being held in the unlockedposition by a step edge (14) on said lock (8) against a shoulder (31) onsaid cover (5) by a biasing spring (10); said locking mechanism beingmounted on said fitting face (26) and forming a recess (46) with saidfitting face (26), and said recess (46) being adjacent to said lock at(8); a lever having a pivot (38) at one end, screw rounded end (45) theother, and a screw driver slot (39) proximate said rounded end (45),said lever being operable to urge said lock (8) against said spring (10)for engaging said lever (9); and a locking projection (48) attached tosaid second wall, part of said second wall for inserting into said (46),said locking projection (48) cooperating with said lock (8) for engagingwith said projection (48), when said part of said second wall is fullyinserted into said recess (46) and said lock (8) is released from saidshoulder (31) and urged into the locked position by said spring (10);wherein said locking projection (48) and said second wall is removeablyattached to the said first wall by operating on said lever (9) with ascrew driver engaging said screw driver slot (39) thereby urging saidlock (8) against said spring (10) and engaging said step (14) with saidshoulder (31).

[0012] The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1: Shows a perspective view of the steel drawer in assemblywith the holding unit along with the front panel.

[0014]FIG. 2: Shows a perspective view of the holding unit and the steelside wall.

[0015]FIG. 3: Shows an exploded perspective view of the holding unitwith details of the components involved and its functionally importantfeatures.

[0016] FIGS. 4 to 9 show digrammatic illustration of the function ofholding unit in sequence.

[0017]FIG. 4: Shows lateral view of the holding unit and steel side wallbefore assembly.

[0018] FIGS. 5 & 6: Shows a lateral view of the holding unit and a steelside wall as they are assembled.

[0019]FIG. 7: Shows a cross-sectional view of the holding unit and steelside wall in assembly.

[0020] FIGS. 8 & 9: Shows the lateral view of the holding unit and thesteel side wall as they are dismantled.

DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The fitting arrangement consists of a holding unit (6), a coverplate (5), a clamping member (8), a lever (9), an eccentric (7), aspring (10) and a spring holder (19). After assembly of all theaforementioned parts, it is now referred to as the holding unit (4).

[0022] The holding plate (6) possesses a vertical face (30) and ahorizontal face (26) to perpendicular each other. The vertical face (30)has openings (50) in its surface top allow fastening to a front panel(1). The horizontal face (26) of the holding plate (6) is provided withan eccentric (7) and two openings (28) for fastening the cover plate(5).

[0023] A metal side wall (2) has a vertical face (3) with a projection(48). The projection has two sides, namely projection side-1 (11) andprojection side-2 (22). The vertical face (3) is provided with a recess(36). This recess (36) has two parallel edges, namely recess edge-1 (23)and recess edge-2 (24). The front face (25) of the metal side wall (2)is the edge of the vertical side wall (3).

[0024] A cover plate (5) serves as a housing for all the elements of theclamping mechanism. A cover plate (5) is provided with a vertical face(41) and inner face (42). Two locators (29) are attached perpendicularto the vertical face (41). A pivot (20) is located perpendicular to theinner face (42) of the cover plate (5). A projection (43) with a stopperradius (27) is provided on the inner face 42) of the plate (5). A bottomface (44) perpendicular to the inner face (42) of the cover plate (5) isprovided with a projection (21). Two guide members (18 a & 18 b) areattached at an angle (DO) to the inner face (42) of the cover plate (5)(refer to FIG. 5). This guide member (18 a) is fastened in such a waythat a shoulder (31) is formed by its edge. Two openings (12) and (13)are provided on the inner face (42) of the cover plate (5). A edge face(47) is provided around the inner face (42) is the cover plate (5). Aedge face (47) is provided around the inner face (4) and parallel to thevertical face (41) of the cover plate.

[0025] The clamping member (8) is provided with a locking face (17), anda groove (32) parallel to and on the reverse side of the locking face(17). An angular step is (51) is provided on the guiding side (52) ofthe groove (32) of the clamping member (8). A clamping face (16) isprovided on the clamping member (8) perpendicular to the locking face(17). Two angular (15 a & 15 b) parallel to each other are provided onboth sides of the locking face (17) at an angle with respect to thelocking face (16). A tilt face (34) perpendicular to the locking (17)and parallel clamping on the (16) is provided on the clamping member(8). A recess (49) is provided behind the locking face (17) from thebottom face (40) of the clamping member (8) for locating the spring(10). A tapered edge (14) is provided at the edge of an angular collar(15 b) and perpendicular to the locking (17) the clamping member (8). Anupper face (35) is provided perpendicular to the locking face (17) ofthe clamping member (8).

DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE ASSEMBLY AND FUNCTION

[0026] The lever (9) has an opening (38) and a screwdriver slot (39).Adjacent to the opening (38), a round edge (45) is provided on the lever(9). This lever (9) is fastened in the cover plate (5) be inserting theopening (38) on a pivot (20) inside the cover plate (5). This lever (9)can be rotated along the center of the pivot (20) by inserting ascrewdriver through an opening (13) on the cover plate (5) into thescrewdriver slot (39) of the lever (9).

[0027] The clamping member (8) is slid inside the guide member (18 a & 8b) of the cover plate (5). The angular collars (15 a & 15 b) then guidethe clamping member (8). A spring (10) is inserted through the bottomface (40) of the clamping member (8) inside a recess (49). This preventsthe spring (10) from slipping when the clamping member (8) is pusheddown. A spring holder (19) is inserted inside the inner surface of thespring (10). The curved profile (33) of the spring holder (19) rests onthe projection (21) on the bottom face (44) of the cover plate (5).

[0028] This whole assembly is referred to as a holding unit (4). Theholding unit (4) is fastened to the front panel of the drawer (1) by theopenings (50) on the vertical projection face (30) of the holding plate(6). The holding unit (4) with the front panel (1) is inserted on thevertical face (3) metal side wall through guide recess (46) (refer toFIGS. 5 & 6). When the holding unit (4) is pushed inside, the tilt face(34) thrusts against the projection-side2 (22) of the projection (48).This compels the tapered edge (14) (8) to tilt of the clamping memberand come out of the shoulder (31) of the cover plate (5). When thetapered edge (14) of the clamping member (8) releases from the shoulder(31), the holding unit (4) with the front panel (1) simultaneously movesinside the vertical face (3) of the metal side wall (2).

[0029] When the clamping member (8) releases from the shoulder (31) ofthe cover plate (5) and the spring (10) pushes it upward through theguide member (18 a & 18 b) which is at an angle (D÷). This angle (D÷)

[0030] causes the clamping member (8) to move at an angle so that theclamping face (16) of the clamping member (8) gradually slides overprojection side-1 (11) of the projection (48) on the metal side wall (2)and clamps the metal side wall (2) against the holding unit (4) andfront (1). When the front panel (1) is held rigidly against the metalside wall (2) by the holding unit (4), the clamping face (16) of theclamping member (8) is in full contact with projection side-1 (11) andthe front face (25) in with front (1) is contact the panel (1) withoutany clearance. The positive clamping of the metal side wall (2) againstthe holding unit (4) and front panel (1) is attained angular movement ofthe clamping member (8).

[0031] When the front panel (1) is held against the metal side wall (2)on both sides of the drawer, the alignment of the front panel (1) isadjusted by rotating the eccentric (7) on the holding plate (6).Inserting a screwdriver through the opening (12) of the cover plate (5)rotates the eccentric (7). The front panel (1) can be moved up and downby the radial motion of the outer surface of the eccentric (7) insidethe recess (36).

[0032] The front panel (1) can be removed from the metal side wall (2)of the drawer by inserting the screwdriver into the screwdriver slot(39) through the opening (13) of the cover plate (5) when the lever (9)is rotated, it pushes down on the spring-loaded clamping member (8). Thepoint of contact ‘B’ of the lever (9) on the clamping member (8) and theprojection (21) on the cover plate (5) where the spring (19) is locatedis offset at a particular distance. This offset causes the clampingmember (8) to tilt towards the shoulder (31) with the lever (9) ispushing it downwards. The line of action (LOS) of the spring (10) andthe line of action (LOL) of the lever (9) is offset in such a way thatthe horizontal distance ‘A’ of point of contact ‘B’ is nearer to theshoulder (31) the horizontal distance ‘c’ of the projection (21) on thebottom face (44) of the clamping member (8) is greater than the distance‘A’ (refer to FIG. 9). The offsetting compels the spring to push thetapered edge (14) of the clamping member (8) over the shoulder (31) ofthe cover plate (5). The clamping member of the cover plate (8) isguided by the guide member (18 a & 18 b) plate (5) at an angle (D÷)

[0033] When the clamping member (8) down it tilts an at angle towardsthe shoulder (31) at the same time that the spring (10) pushes theclamping member (8) upwards. When the clamping member (8) movesdownwards, the projection (43) is guided by the guiding side (52) on thegroove (32) of the clamping member (8). The clamping member (8) tilts ata point where the angular step (51) on the guiding side (52) of theclamping member (8) comes into contact with the stopper radius (27) onthe projection (43) the cover of 10 plate (5) (refer to FIG. 10).

[0034] Further rotation of the lever (9) makes the clamping member (8)tilt more and the tapered edge (14) of the clamping member (8) slidesout of the guide member (18 b) and moves inside the shoulder (31)because of the potential of the spring, and then gets locked in thatposition. The shape of the opening (13), which allows the screwdriver torotate a limited distance, limits rotation of lever (9). This causes thelever (9) to push the clamping member (8) just enough to rotateslightly. This makes the lever (9) compel the clamping member (8) justenough lock the shoulder (31) of the cover plate (5) (refer FIGS. 9 &10). The holding unit (4) along with the front panel (1) can be detachedfrom the metal side wall in this position.

1. A lock fittings for removably attaching a first wall to a secondwall, said first and second walls being orthogonal to each other, saidlock fittings comprising: a lock assembly (4) having a mounting face(30) and a fitting face (26), mounting (30) fitting (26) and said facesbeing orthogonal to each other; a locking mechanism having aspring-loaded lock (8) and a cover (5) for housing said lock mechanism,said lock (8) being held in the unlocked position by a step edge (14) onsaid lock (8) against a shoulder (31) on said cover (5) by a biasingspring (10); said locking mechanism being mounted on said fitting face(26) and forming a recess (46) with said fitting (26), and said recess(46) being face adjacent to said lock (8); a lever having a pivot (38)at one end, a rounded end (45) and a screw driver slot (39) proximate atthe other, said rounded end (45), said lever being in contact (B) withsaid lock (8) and being operable to urge said lock (8) against saidspring (10) for engaging said step against edge (14) with said shoulder(31) by turning said lever (9); and a locking projection (48) attachedto said second wall, part of said second wall for inserting into saidrecess (46), said locking projection (48) cooperating with said lock (8)for engaging with said projection (48), when said part of said secondwall is fully inserted into said recess (46) and said lock (8) isreleased from said shoulder (31) and urged into the locked position bysaid spring (10); wherein said locking projection (48) and said secondwall is removeably attached to the said first wall by operating on saidlever (9) with a screw driver engaging said screw driver slot (39)thereby urging said lock (8) against said spring (10) and engaging saidstep (14) with said shoulder (31).
 2. The lock fittings according toclaim 1, wherein said lock (8) has an elongate groove (17) for slidableengagement with said projection (48).
 3. The lock fittings according toclaim 2, wherein said lock (8) has a collar (15 a,15 b) on both sides ofsaid elongate groove (17), said collar (15 a,15 b) being adjacent tosaid long side of said groove (17).
 4. The lock fittings according toclaim 3, wherein said cover (5) has a pair of guide surfaces (18 a,18 b)for cooperating with said collar (15 a,15 b).
 5. The lock fittingsaccording to claims 4 or 5, wherein the surfaces of said pair of guides(18 a,18 b) are inclined towards said mounting face (30) at an angle (D)from the vertical axis.
 6. The lock fittings according to claims 4 or 5,wherein said collars (15 a,15 b) have clearances with said guidesurfaces (18 a,18 b) for allowing said lock (8) to translate or rotatetherein, said rotation is within an angle of substantially 15 degree. 7.The lock fittings according to any one of the preceding claims, whereinthe line of action of said spring 10) is offset from point of contact(B) towards said mounting face (30).
 8. The lock fittings according toany one of the preceding claims, wherein the line of action of saidspring (10) is offset from said step (14) and shoulder (31) contactpoint towards said mounting face (30)
 9. The lock fittings according ofthe to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the line of action ofsaid spring falls within the distance between the perpendicular line atsaid contact (B) and said